The Museum of Rural Life in Redlands Road, will be holding its annual Village Fete tomorrow, with cookery demonstrations, science experiments and craft stalls offering something for every palate

The Museum of English Rural Life's annual Village Fete takes place tomorrow

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Visitors to a museum in Reading this weekend should get their appetites ready for a day of food-themed fun.

The Museum of Rural Life (MERL), in Redlands Road, will be holding its annual Village Fete tomorrow, with cookery demonstrations, science experiments and craft stalls offering something for every palate.

Entrants to the MERL Biscuit Bake-off will be battling it out to be crowned the best baker, and University of Reading students will be competing in a ‘Reading, Steady, Cook!’ challenge to create a new dish using only ingredients from the diverse communities of the town.

BBC Radio 4 Gardener’s Question Time panellist Bunny Guinness will officially open the event, and offer tips and advice to encourage others to follow in her self-sufficient lifestyle. She will also be judging the biscuit bake-off competition.

Bunny said: “I am very much looking forward to returning to Reading, where I have many happy memories.

“It’s fitting this year’s fete is focusing on food. The university has a prestigious reputation for food and plant science which links directly into the town’s beer, bulbs and biscuit history. I am looking forward to chatting to fellow garden enthusiasts and food producers.”

A local brewery has also created an ale especially for the occasion.

Sherfield Village Brewery, which recently helped university students create their own ‘Extra Curricular’ ale, has brewed a light, hoppy beer for the fete, and its name, picked by members of the public, will be revealed on Saturday.

Public programmes manager Phillip Heath said: “Of course you cannot have food without drink and we are delighted to welcome the Brewery History Society to this year’s event. We have also created our own village pub, The Merl-inn, which will be serving local ales and ciders.

“There’s something for everyone to come and enjoy, from food-themed family tours of the museum, traditional games and face-painting to delicious refreshments including ice cream, smoothies, cream teas and cake, a beer tent, vegetarian street food, and a hog roast.

“There’ll even be chickens and bumble bees.”

The Village Fete takes place between 10am and 4.30pm tomorrow. Tickets cost £2.50 in advance or £3 on the door. Children enter free. All proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the MERL Redevelopment Fund.

For more information, visit www.reading.ac.uk/merl or call (0118) 378 8660.